Bohne withdraws appeal in Olmos Park

By Edmond Ortiz :
April 2, 2014

Olmos Park's mayor and the attorney of the city's last permanent police chief each say both sides are ready to move on following the chief's concluded attempt to appeal his firing.

After being relieved of his duties as police chief March 5, Fritz Bohne requested an open hearing on his appeal with the City Council, which was to be held Thursday.

But Bohne by March 25 formally resigned and withdrew his appeal. City Manager Celia Deleon accepted Bohne's resignation and rescinded his termination. “Therefore, because of his resignation, this brings the matter to a close,” said Mayor Kenneth Farrimond in an email blast to residents. “The city will have no further comment with regards to Chief Bohne's employment or resignation.”

“We thought this would be in the best interests of Mr. Bohne and the city,” Bohne's attorney, Mayo Galindo, said. “We thought it would be good to arrive at a peaceful solution, and let everyone go their own way.”

Galindo said he and Bohne feel better about no longer pursuing an appeal of the police chief's termination, and instead prefer to reflect on Bohne's professional accomplishments. “He's a veteran law enforcement man. He's had a long, interesting career.”

In the citizens-to-be-heard part of the March 20 council meeting, several residents showed support for Bohne.

“We would like to thank Chief Bohne for his service to the city of Olmos Park, and wish him the best of luck in the future,” Farrimond also wrote in the email blast.

As for Thursday, the council instead will have a 5 p.m. workshop with PSW Homes, the company that hopes to get a special use permit to build single-family homes on a part of East Olmos Drive zoned for multi-family.